Holmdel cracks down on parking lot activities at PNC Bank Arts Center

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect conflicting reports on whether tailgating has been banned.

HOLMDEL – As the summer concert season nears, thousands of tailgaters and band superfans are preparing for the inevitable parking lot parties that often accompany major touring bands – but if they are coming to the PNC Bank Arts Center, they might want to leave their fun at home.

Impreveduto said local police and emergency personnel were being strained by the ancillary events at the amphitheater.

“Last month we passed an ordinance to surcharge them for parking,” Impreveduto said in April. “They’ve gone too many years using our infrastructure with us getting nothing in return. They’re using our police, fire and infrastructure and we want some compensation.”

The ordinance limits permitted activities in the venue’s parking lots, and will hold the ampitheater’s manager, Live Nation, responsible for any violations by imposing a small fine.

“It creates a regulation of conduct in certain parking areas,” Impreveduto said. “It forbids anyone to engage in any activity other than the parking of motor vehicles. They have been running ancillary events in their parking lot, that is now going to be prohibited.”

However, after this story published some township officials have said that the ordinance does not ban tailgating. NJ.com is working to sort out the details and will update this story when those details are available.

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The move follows a series of incidents with fans at the amphitheater. In 2000, during a performance by the rock band Phish, more than 70 people were arrested on various charges. In 2007, the Oz Fest festival and a concert by Gwen Stefani resulted in multiple complaints of underage drinking and drug use in the parking lot area.

In response, the venue prohibited underage drinking in its parking lots in 2007, only to later soften the rule to allow tailgating at some events.

This year, potential tailgating draws include Dierks Bentley, who performs on May 18, The Dave Matthews Band on June 10, the Vans Warped Tour on June 7, O.A.R. on July 12, Toby Keith on July 25 and Nine Inch Nails on August 2.

Live Nation, the California-based events and promotion company that has managed the amphitheater since 2005, could not be reached for comment.